The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series is days away from its 2009 opener and the sanctioning body has indicated the entries for the 49th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals have surpassed the 2008 level.

The first of four qualifying runs for the season-opener at Fairplex is set for Thursday at 2 p.m. Another run is set for Friday and two on Saturday before Sunday’s final eliminations.

There are indications as many as 20 Top Fuel dragsters will be entered in the sport’s premier class. There was concern tough economic conditions would create numbers at pomona Raceway.

Five-time defending Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher headlines the class, but without longtime crew chief Alan Johnson. Instead, Johnson has formed his own two-car team and will have former champion Larry Dixon at the throttle.

“We may enter Pomona, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we are going to race,” Warren Johnson told CompetitionPlus.com earlier in the month.

PENALTIES REMOVED

The NHRA policy to minimize oil downs during national events has prove so effective that the sanctioning body will suspend penalties for the 2009 season.

First enacted in 2000 in the pro classes and later in the sportsman categories, the policy initially resulted in both monetary and points penalties. The monetary fines were removed midway through last season but NHRA retained the points penalties for the professional categories.

“This move is designed to ease the financial burden on the race teams, given we have experienced cooperation among the racing community to minimize oil downs at national events with much success,” said Graham Light, senior vice president of racing operations. “We are confident that the fans will continue to see a great show come the start of the season at the Winternationals.”

NHRA will monitor the situation during the course of the year and f the new policy results in lengthy clean-up efforts due to excessive oil downs, some form of a penalty will be considered.

WILKERSON EVENT

The Residence Inn by Marriott in Ontario will host a Tim Wilkerson Fan Appreciation Night Feb. 5, prior to the season-opening NHRA Winternationals at Pomona Raceway.

The free autograph session will feature Wilkerson and other members of the Levi, Ray & Shoup Shelby Mustang Funny Car team and is scheduled from 6 until 8 p.m. The event is open to the public.

Lou Brewster is a nationally recognized motorsports journalist who has staffed NASCAR and NHRA events since 1969. Has also staffed high school football, in five different states, since 1967. Has won several national awards in writing and breaking news.

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.